Chapter 26 - Old Soldier, Old Gun
Translated by: Ciel
Edited by: Isalee
When the bullets pa.s.sed through the two doors, they shattered all the tools on the shelves. Gao Yang and the others had no way of stopping them from shooting.
Once the shots stopped, someone outside seemed to shout something. They all spoke in Arabic, and so Gao Yang couldn’t understand what they said. But, he could hear three to four others shout in response.
Malik whispered and said to Gao Yang, “They want us to open the door, or else they’ll burn the house down.”
While Malik spoke mostly in English, there were several Arabic words mixed into the sentence. Thankfully, Gao Yang could still understand most of it. He shook his head and said, “Don’t believe their bull. Once they come in, they’ll kill us all. Right now, we have to protect ourselves. Do you have a gun?”
“No gun, but what will we do if they actually set fire?”
Bob lowered his voice, “Believe him. Don’t open the door. Otherwise, you’ll have signed our deaths. They won’t burn the house down. Who do you think they are? Are they thugs trying to loot the house? Or are they armed fighters who just want to kill people?”
Malik hesitated for a moment and said, “I don’t think they’re trying to plunder the house. But, if they were thugs, they wouldn’t come out now. But, the armed fighters have no reason to target our store. Are they looking for you?”
Gao Yang shook his head, “That can’t be right. We just arrived today, and I don’t know any of them. Can you ask them what they are here for?”
Malik hardened his resolve and shouted in Arabic. When the people outside heard Malik’s words, they became even more violent and even started kicking at the door while shouting.
Malik said to Gao Yang, “They said that someone saw a mercenary from the Gaddafi enter here. They want me to hand them over. I think they’re talking about you guys. Also, they want me to hand over all the cash in the store. I think, they’re probably also thugs.”
Gao Yang and Bob’s foreigner faces ended up bringing them trouble in the end. Gao Yang was frustrated, but also felt guilty. He whispered to Malik, “I’m truly sorry. Looks like they are here after us. We have brought you trouble.”
Malik shook his head, “We are friends. Friends should help each other. I’ll tell them that they have it all wrong.”
Malik spoke to them in Arabic again. But after a few sentences, several shots were given in response. Soon after, Gao Yang could smell the strong odor of oil. Right as he saw the situation devolving, he heard soft shots sound just outside the door and several screams follow.
Gao Yang couldn’t tell what happened, but after he heard the gunshots outside the door, everything went silent. Mixed into the odor of the oil, was the iron smell of blood.
Gao Yang and Malik exchanged glances and said together, “They’ve been killed.”
Right then, a voice sounded from the room above, “Malik, what happened?”
Gao Yang turned his head around, and saw an old man appear from the steps of the second floor. The old man’s head was covered in silver hair. He had a hunched back and seemed to tremble as he stepped down the stairs. The old man looked to be at least 80 years old. But, he didn’t move very slowly. He looked just like an old shop owner, an innocent expression on his face.
When he was halfway down the stairs, he stood still and pointed at his disarrayed store, “Who are you? Malik, what happened?”
Gao Yang was most astonished by the fact that the old man was white. He didn’t even know what to say. He just stared right at the old man while Malik ran over to the stairs. He supported the old man and quickly said, “Hurry back, its too dangerous here. Remember what I told you before. Exactly. Do exactly what I said. Its dangerous out here. You have to go back. Ah, those two came to the shop to seek refuge. A shoot out is happening outside, and a lot of people have died. Just now, some people were attempting to charge into here, but they’ve all died now.”
Malik’s voice was urgent and he repeated several words over and over again. Even so, the old man understood everything. He nodded and then said to Gao Yang and Bob, “Looks like you will have to stay here for a while. It won’t calm down outside for a long while. You two, make yourselves at home.”
After that welcome to Gao Yang and Bob, the old man then said to Bob, “You have done well. Don’t let those b*st*rds enter. We have to protect our own things. To deal with those kind of thugs, you have to be firm. Follow me, I’ll give you some things.”
After he said that, the old man unsteadily walked back. Malik supported him up the stairs. After telling them to be careful, he followed the old man up the stairs.
Gao Yang and Bob looked at each other, and finally Bob couldn’t help but say, “What is that old man planning? Nevermind, we’ll think of something. Bro, we gotta get out of this place.”
Gao Yang let out a sigh and said, “I want to leave this place too, but you saw the situation outside. I think that as soon as we leave, we’ll be as good as dead.”
We need to give my Dad a call. Who knows how his situation is like. I need to tell him what happened. I hope he isn’t in any danger right now. D*mm*t, why did something like this happen right as we come out.”
Bob was feeling a little panicked and paced back and forth. That’s when the old man and Malik returned. The only difference was that Malik was carrying a long briefcase in his hands.
For the sake of respect for the old man, Gao Yang and Bob stood at the bottom of the stairs and waited for the old man to get down himself. The old man reached out and gripped Gao Yang and Bob’s hand before saying, “Gentlemen, my name is Fedor Von Brauchitsch. Welcome to our shop. You can be at ease here. Stay for as long as you want. If you need anything, feel free to ask us.”
The old man’s english was extremely fluent and he articulated his sentences well. But, when Gao Yang heard the old man’s name, he immediately realized that the man before him was German, and he was a n.o.bleman. The old man’s name wasn’t just the generic German name, but rather it had a “von” within it, to indicate his n.o.ble birth.
The old man must been from the Junker family. Historically, they had been dukes in the German aristocracy. Any man from the Junker family were typically involved with the military somehow. Just looking at the German generals during World War II who had the name “von” and you could see just how powerful a name like that was.
Gao Yang’s instincts told him that the man before him was not simple. After making a brief introduction of himself and Bob, Gao Yang politely said, “I am very honored to have met you, Mr. Brauchitsch. If any of us can help, then do not hesitate to ask.”
Fedor nodded, “Thank you. Gentlemen, let me first take out the thing that will deal with those scoundrels.”
Fedor walked over to a box and sat down. He then signaled to Malik to put the briefcase before him. Fedor pulled out a key and opened it up.
Gao Yang’s instincts were telling him that there was a gun in that case. When Fedor opened it up, Gao Yang gasped in delight. While there only looked to be scattered parts in the case, he could immediately tell that it was a gun and bullets. And, there was more than one.
After opening up the box, Fedor carefully picked up each piece and a cleaning rag and began to wipe down each piece.
“Old b*st*rd, after all these years, you’re finally making another appearance.”
While the rifle in the box was in pieces, but from the shape of the gun’s b.u.t.t, Gao Yang immediately recognized it as an old but famous gun, the KAR98K!
The 98K was one of the main guns used by the Germans during the Second World War. Anybody with some knowledge of the second world war knows the name. There was a small handgun next to the rifle, it was the famous P38.
No matter if it"s the rifle parts or the gun parts, they all had a thick layer of oil, and it was maintained extremely well. It looked practically new. Even the bullets were wrapped in a layer of wax paper and didn’t rust at all.
Gao Yang was starting to think that the old man was a sniper before. That much was obvious. Because, besides the gun and the bullets, there was also a special ZF41 scope a pair of chrome 6x30 binoculars. Just these two things were enough to demonstrate the old man’s history as a sniper.
Watching fedor carefully put the rifle together and then place the scope on top, Gao Yang finally couldn’t help but excitedly ask, “Mr.Brauchitsch, were you a sniper before?”
Fedor looked at Gao Yang for a long time, and was silent. Finally, he nodded and said, “I was in the German National Defense Army, 164th Corps…”
Fedor only said that one sentence and said nothing else. After shaking his head, he twisted the gun bolt. That’s when Bob cautiously asked, “Then, are you a n.a.z.i?”
Fedor glanced at Bob and solemnly said, “I’m not a n.a.z.i, I am a military man. I am a man who will fight for Germany. The only difference was that in 1943, before the African Army surrendered, I had already escaped. A friend had told me that my parents had been executed when they were found to be helping the Jews. They had hidden my girlfriend in their bas.e.m.e.nt. My brother had died Stalingrad. After hearing that news, I escaped. Now, I am a just a deserter.”
After slowly saying those words, Fedor put the bullets in one by one. When he was done, he pulled the gun barrel with a Hua La, sending the bullets into the chamber.
“When the war finished, and I returned to Ruhrgebiet, I saw that my home was in ruins. My sister had died during a bombing, her remains lay scattered among the ruins. My brother died in Normandy, he manned the SS12 tank. When he died, he was only 15. He wasn’t like me… My brother was a proud n.a.z.i. He even felt that our parents deserved their end. He wanted to use his life to scrub away the shame that our family had brought. In the end, it was just as he had desired.
After he said that, Fedor aimed the gun and continued, “Gentlemen, after hearing this old man’s story, you must know that I hold a different opinion for n.a.z.is.”